Giving something a name changes how we relate to it. It collects a broad array of symptoms and names the disease causing them. It allows us to recognize it in ourselves, have conversations about it, and frame it as something you can actively try to fight. Case in point: brain rot.
The arrival of the term brain rot filled a gaping hole in the English language: we sorely needed a name for that fugue state you enter after sinking a little too deep into the infinite scroll. Once the term was coined, its use went up by 230% online and gained mainstream recognition when Oxford named it 2024’s word of the year:
Brain rot (n.): The supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration.
We’ve long known that modern life isn’t great for our bodies. We’re educated on fitness and nutrition, and have heard warnings about pesticides and microplastics lurking in our food. Brain rot is a new beast; it's less visible than, say, carrying a little extra weight, and its consequences are less well documented. Identifying the issue is a step in the right direction: finding a remedy is the next.
I started with a question: if we combat our sedentary modern lives by going to the gym, mightn’t there be places to go to combat brain rot? A place to get our brains moving?
I took a stab at mapping out a few potential spots: The following is a list of SF spots that encourage some intellectual reps. We’re not trying to run a marathon here; all of these places will require nothing more than the mental equivalent of taking a jog or doing some stretches. I personally find brain rot to be far more pervasive in the twilight hours between leaving work and going to sleep, so I’ve endeavoured to include spots open late on weeknights (few and far between here in San Francisco!).
So, take yourself out, read a book, make conversation, learn something new - your future self will thank you for it.
The Game Parlour
Next up we have the Game Parlour. Located in the Inner Sunset, this spot has a stated goal of getting people off their phones and engaged in some healthy competition. Pay a $10 cover and gain access to their fantastic catalogue of board games. They carry everything from old classics to complex strategy games with rulebooks that are mental workouts in and of themselves. And don’t forget to check out their menu - it is entirely made up of waffle-related dishes - almost as fun as the games themselves… or maybe more fun depending on how you feel about games. And waffles.
1342 Irving St, San Francisco
https://www.thegameparlour.com/
Adobe Books
There’s something really special about used books - old notes in the margins, grooves in the pages from where they’ve been dogeared, cracked spines, and the smell. Adobe Books specializes in these treasures, a fact which is somehow the least interesting thing about them.
They’re volunteer-run, for one, which to me says a lot: enough people love this place that it’s been running on goodwill since 1989. Then there are the comfortable couches: a gripe I often have with bookstores is that there’s nowhere to sit down. Absolutely ridiculous if you ask me because how am I supposed to know if I’m actually gonna like a book if I don’t take some time to read through it? I love that there, you’re encouraged to linger. It makes it feel less like a store and more like a community gathering spot, which it is! Events are hosted frequently, and hanging out is encouraged even if there isn’t anything in particular going on.
Depending on how much you love it there, you might even try signing up for their volunteer program; it’s perfect - you’d be scheduled to be elsewhere, talking, learning, and reading in the hours when you’d otherwise be scrolling.
3130 24th St, San Francisco
https://www.adobebooks.com/
The SF State Observatory
There are a lot of things about stargazing that make it feel like the natural opposite of brain rot. For one, screens will ruin your night vision, meaning you literally can’t stargaze without putting that glaring blue light in your back pocket. For another, this pastime will require you to crane your neck skyward rather than down over your phone.
I was therefore very excited to discover that the SF State Observatory opens its doors to the public for free night viewings during the academic semester. A team of student volunteers is ready to guide you through the experience and answer any questions.
A couple of caveats: viewing conditions in SF are often sub-optimal. Fog and cloud cover frequently cancel viewings - check their Instagram for scheduling updates before heading out. When the stars (wink and nudge) do align, though, you won’t regret a night spent under a sky full of them. You’ll feel so small and so big at the same time, like such a human being.
The center is open to the public on certain nights during the school year, so check their site for more info.
Thornton Hall, 10th Floor
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco
https://physics.sfsu.edu/observatory
Finjan Qahwa
Finjan Qahwa is perhaps the odd man out on the list: it’s a Palestinian coffee shop with no intellectual gimmick at its core, but I included it nonetheless because it's a wonderful place to hang out with a book, or perhaps get some creative work done. The best part: they don’t close till 10 pm! What a treat! In my experience, it really pays to have a third space that remains accessible after the work day ends. It’s untainted by the habits and associations of your daily routine, and so acts as a blank canvas you can paint your night onto. It’s chill, cozy, food and drink are available at the cash register, and the staff is friendly and accommodating.
3188 Mission St, San Francisco
@finjanqahwasf
Free For All: The Public Library
The SF Public Library
The library might seem like an awful obvious place to start - at least that was my immediate thought when I sat down to write this list. Asking around, though, proved me wrong. We all know the library is there but don’t fully comprehend how wonderful a place it actually is. Seriously, you forget how much of life lives behind a paywall until you find yourself in a room full of entertainment and information that you can just… have? If you ask for it? What a concept!
Most branches throughout the city stay open until 8 pm at least a few days a week, giving you plenty of time to browse and curl up with whatever sparks your interest. A library card will also get you two dollars' worth of free printing, access to the SFPL Kanopy library, and free tickets to a variety of events citywide. You’d be downright silly not to take advantage of all that.
